Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een schilderij door Richard Westall, voorstellend een scene uit Macbeth door William Shakespeare before 1864

This is Stephen Ayling’s reproduction of Richard Westall’s print of a scene from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, its date unknown. Westall’s original print and Ayling’s reproduction offer insight into the historical reception and representation of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most complex characters, who defies traditional representations of women, yet is tormented by guilt. It's easy to see her as a woman whose ambition and strength are inextricably linked to her downfall. In Westall's print, and consequently in Ayling's reproduction, we see Lady Macbeth in a moment of contemplation or planning, her delicate features are softened by the print's hazy atmosphere. These representations often mirrored societal expectations of femininity, even when portraying a character as transgressive as Lady Macbeth. Ultimately, this reproduction of a print invites us to reflect on how societal expectations and historical context shape our understanding and depiction of Shakespeare's characters, reflecting the emotional and personal dimensions of their stories.